Echinacea plant named ‘Balsclemc’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsclemc’, characterized by its double-type, creamy-yellow colored ray florets, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsclemc’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsclemc’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a double inflorescence form and a well-branched growth habit.

The new Echinacea×hybrida cultivar is a naturally-occurring sport of Double Scoop Raspberry ‘Balsceras’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by its double-type, coral-orange with purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a side shoot and selected during May 2010 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation since May 2010 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsclemc’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, creamy-yellow colored ray florets;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the parent Double Scoop Raspberry ‘Balsceras’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsceras’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray and disc floret color         different from plants of ‘Balsceras’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Balsceras’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsclemc’. The plants were transplanted from one-gallon containers and grown in a garden-type bed for 3 months in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsclemc’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsclemc’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were transplanted from one-gallon containers and grown in a garden-type bed for 3 months in West Chicago, Ill. During this period the temperature ranged from a low of 41° F. (5° C.) and a high of 93° F. (34° C.). Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balsclemc. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—Double Scoop Raspberry ‘Balsceras’, U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 23,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a             rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a one-gallon             container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright,             herbaceous perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 44.0 cm. Width: Approximately 36.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             3.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Round in cross-section. Length to base of inflorescence:             Approximately 38.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 4.7 cm. Texture:             Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young             and mature stems: 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Margin: Entire, slightly             undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.5 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Dull, moderately pubescent with short strigose             hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with             short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 145C. Color             of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to             138B with venation of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered             with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: Closest to 145C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsclemc’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, anemone-type double,             composite. Persistent. Shape: Hemispherical. Aspect: Facing             upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong             peduncles. Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 7. Height: Approximately 6.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 6.5 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 15.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color: 145A.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 2. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 18C with a bud center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 16.             Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:             Subtending. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Appearance: Dull.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Two to three acute tips. Base:             Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface when             first open: 18A at apex transitioning to 18C at base. Color             of lower surface when first and fully open: 2D. Color of             upper surface when fully open: 18B with 18C at base, fading             to 10D with age.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 275. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular, free             portion linear. Margin of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five             acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of             upper or inner surface when first and fully open: 18D with             18C at tips. Color of lower or outer surface when first and             fully open: 18D with 18C at tips, center of 144A, and base             of 145D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 55.             Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 to             3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture             of lower or outer surface: Moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower             surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 275. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             17A, mid-section of 146A, and base of 155D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D, often browned 199B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Present on             disc florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil             length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 145C. Style             length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color: NN155D. Ovary             length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 155D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsclemc’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 